Clifton Mitchell - 'A fighting view on security.'

As heavyweights Audley Harrison and Michael Sprott were getting ready to throw their punches and defend themselves at all times last Friday night, another heavyweight had his team on hand to ensure punches outside the ring were not thrown and the outer ring safety of the fighters was preserved.

44-year-old Clifton Mitchell made his own personal ring walks during his 20 fight career, (18 wins) but now in his post fighting days ‘Big Cliff’ has swapped a life of punching for one of protecting.

His company Security Alert UK have been involved with many major fights including David Haye’s recent bout with John Ruiz and Carl Froch’s fights against Jean Pascal and Andre Dirrrell so they are no strangers to the big time or dealing with large numbers of people.

More than an hour before the first fight of the night got under way at 7.30 pm, Clifton arrived at North London’s empty Alexandra Palace (if I don’t include the TV and Matchroom team). But in an hour or two there will only be a few short of four thousand, none of which fazed him in the slightest which doesn’t surprise me when your firm have their slogan as ‘Maximum security, minimum force.’

Mitchell is relaxed and likes to project a ‘healthy balance’ with his security firm. “You can have over-aggressive security and you can have security that is not up to the mark.”

Clifton has just finished giving me a little commentary of the huge arena and pointed out the venue’s own security seemed a little lightweight.

“If this goes wrong tonight it is going to go proper wrong, you have got to have a firm but fair security. You will have high emotions here because you are talking about people’s brothers, uncles and best mates fighting, so there is going to be a lot of emotion so you have to be a little sympathetic towards the course, horses for courses.”

Mitchell thinks that preparation is a vital key to having good security. “You have got to understand the market, you have got to have the running order, you have got to have the fighters on the bill, and what type of crowd do the fighters bring to the table and then you can tailor your security.”

His firm Security Alert UK have only seven men on duty tonight (Clifton wasn't personally involved on the night) whose job is to ensure a safe walk to the ring for the main event fighters and that only the fighters and their corner team along with the referee, MC and doctor enter the ring before, during and after the fight.

Many boxing fans have been used to viewing an overcrowded ring at the sound of victory, but while Cliff and his team are on location there will be only a slim chance of that occurring.

But don’t be alarmed - this is not a licence to just throw their weight around, these men believe in the ethos of brain with brawn as their Supervisor Andy Brown explained to me shortly before Harrison and Sprott began their entrance to the ring.

“People skills are key, it doesn’t matter how big you are some still want to have a go.”

Brown then recalled a disturbing moment. “On one occasion a fan punched a fighter as he was walking towards the ring.”

Security Alert UK men all carry a huge physical presence and not surprisingly can handle themselves as they are skilled in the likes of cage fighting but this is always seen as a last resort measure.

Clifton knows it all begins with how you speak to people and gave me an insight to his team’s pep talk.

“Always be polite to everyone because you don’t know who you are talking to and speak to people how you would like to be spoken to, that is my favourite saying, speak to people like an idiot then they will speak to you like one.”

Security Alert UK men are all dressed in white polo shirts displaying their company logo with black slacks (with the exception of the supervisor who is dressed in a black polo shirt) and tonight they are positioned at each ring post. During the fights they remained seated and watchful, and only stand up in between rounds.

Even though Clifton wasn’t on official duty as he had his own fighter Dave Ryan on the bill (against Michael Lomax) his heart towards the fighters came through after Michael Sprott was knocked out.

A crowded outer ringside is no comfortable area to work your way through at the best of times let alone when you have just suffered a devastating knock out, so Clffton sprang into action in escorting the defeated fighter safely away from the masses.

Security Alert UK did an efficient job and any engagement I had with them during the night was enough to convince me that security doesn’t have to be mean and unpleasant in order for people to comply.

Clifton told me that when security is too heavy handed it simply suggests a lack of confidence in their ability.

Just after Darren Barker had captured European glory two of Clifton’s men could be seen walking alongside him despite the Arena being nearly empty and the hour had now reached Saturday morning.

It could have been easy to display a complacent attitude and just allow Barker to walk by the few fans, but Clifton obviously believes in standing to the final bell and a little longer if needed.

After all the fighters safety is his priority.

Coming from a former boxer that is hardly a shock.